On July 20, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy manual to make it easier for green card applicants to identify who may be considered inadmissible to

Continue Reading USCIS Policy Manual Updates Make It Easier to Identify Adjustment of Status Applicants Subject to the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

Most employment-based permanent residency applications require the applicant to go through the PERM labor certification process where the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifies that there are not sufficient U.S.

Continue Reading Schedule A I-140: Fast-Track Green Card for Nurses and Physical Therapists

On March 31, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) permanently removed the requirement that U.S. civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no

Continue Reading USCIS Removes Form I-693 Signature Requirement, Simplifying the Green Card Application Process

Summary

State and local pay transparency laws require employers to disclose pay ranges to applicants in their job advertisements and may require steps beyond the Department of Labor (DOL) regulations

Continue Reading PERM Recruitment Advertisements under ‘Pay Transparency’ Laws

As economies worldwide begin to re-open, some companies and individuals are thinking about resuming international travel. If international travel is required for your work or other reasons, be prepared for


Continue Reading July 2020 Travel Advisory, U.S. Embassy/ Consular Services, and COVID-19 Movement Restrictions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is denying Advance Parole (AP) applications when an applicant travels internationally while the application is pending with USCIS.  This represents a big adjudication shift
Continue Reading Denial of Advance Parole Applications Due to International Travel Adversely Impacts U.S. Companies

Today, President Trump joined Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) announcing the introduction of a bill titled “Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act,” known also as the “RAISE Act.”  The president praised the work of the senators and in a statement added, “We want a merit-based system. One that protects workers, our workers, our taxpayers, and one that protects our economy. We want it merit-based.”

Highlights from the bill are included below:

  • Eliminates the diversity visa program.
  • Sets the maximum number of refugee admissions to 50,000 per fiscal year.
  • Worldwide level of family sponsored immigrants is 88,000. The number of humanitarian paroles, if the individual has not departed or has not adjusted status, will be counted against that number.
  • A new classification is created for the alien parents of adult U.S. citizens for admission for five years, but will not be able to receive public benefits or work authorization.
  • A person cannot naturalize if the person who executed an affidavit of support failed to reimburse the Federal Government for all mean-tested public benefits received by the person during the 5-year period.
  • Annual and quadrennial reports will be required to monitor the progress and numbers.
  • The creation of an immigration points system to replace the employment-based immigrant visa categories.
  • Effective date will be the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment.  Those exempt are those who have been granted admission prior to enactment, but he or she will need to enter within one year of enactment.


Continue Reading President Trump Endorses New Bill Addressing ‘Green Card’ Immigration